Game Preview, Week 2: Washington at Green Bay Packers

September 11, 2025

by Steve Thomas

Washington had a pretty darn positive week 1 of the new 2025 NFL season, defeating the division rival New York Giants at home at Northwest Stadium.  The week 1 game showed a much-improved run defense, in particular.  Whether that can continue against this week’s opponent, the Green Bay Packers on a short-week Thursday night game is, of course, another story.  The Packers are a much better team than the Giants and don’t have to travel for this game.  That’s a pretty big deal for a Thursday game.  In order to get a win, Washington will need to deal with a Packers offense that is vastly better than that of the Giants, plus a Micah-Parsons-led defense.  Can Washington get the job done?  We’ll all find out tonight.  Our game preview is below.

Game time & location:           Thursday, September 11, 2025, 8:15 p.m. ET, Lambeau Field, Green Bay WI; Gates open                                                       6:15 p.m. ET; parking lots open 4:15 p.m.

Television:                               Amazon Prime

Television announcers:          Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Kaylee Hartung

TV broadcast map:                 National broadcast; map for weekend is here

 

DC-area radio:                            BIG-100 (WBIG FM)

Washington radio network:    Click here

Packers radio network:           Click here

Satellite radio:                             Sirius: 88 (Nat’l. broad.); SiriusXM: 226 (Wash. broad.)

 

Washington roster:                  Click here

Washington depth chart:        Click here

Packers roster:                             Click here

Packers depth chart:              Click here

 

All-time head-to-head record vs Packers: 16 – 20 – 1 (last 10: 4 – 6)

Last meeting: W, October 23, 2022, 23 – 21

Packers record: 1 – 0 (1st place) / NFC: 1 – 0 / Home: 1 – 0

Washington record: 1 – 0 (1st place) / NFC: 1 – 0 / Away: 0 – 0

Early odds: Packers, -3.5

3 KEYS TO THE GAME

Eliminate the mistakes

By my count, Washington had 12 penalties against the Giants last week, and also made a number of other key mistakes.  That game might not have worked out quite as well against a better team.  Well, guess what?  The Packers are that better team; in fact, they are much better.  Washington cannot afford to do things like allow the opposing offense to have another fresh set of downs on the goal line and expect to win.  Also, Washington’s receiving group had plenty of dropped balls.  In my view, playing a clean game – as opposed to what we saw last week – is probably the most important key to this week’s matchup against the Packers.

Control the Packers’ wide receivers

The Packers have a whole stable full of talented receivers, including Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and the rookie Matthew Golden, along with a talented young quarterback.  Washington’s defensive back group did well against the Giants last week, but the Packers are at another level.  Green Bay’s rushing attack was good last year but did not produce last week against the Lions.  In my view, Washington’s ability to win this game is dependent upon Washington’s ability to slow down the Packers in the air.  I suspect that Washington’s front seven will do well in the trenches, but ultimately, the test will be Washington’s developing secondary.

Establish the short passing game

In my view, the Packers are going to be able to control Washington’s run game to a much greater degree than did the Giants, and they are also capable of putting more pressure on Jayden Daniels.  That means the key to Washington’s success in this game is the short passing game.

 3 KEY MATCHUPS

Josh Conerly vs. Micah Parsons

Let’s be honest and admit that this matchup has the potential to go horribly wrong, assuming Parsons can play with his back injury.  Conerly didn’t really play well last week, and the Packers would be fools to not emphasize this pairing.  Washington will need to get him plenty of help here.

Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos vs. Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden

I’m very interested to see just how well Washington’s corner group does against a better quarterback with an overall quality receiving corps.  This could be a big week in terms of attention and recognition if both Lattimore and Amos hold their own and don’t allow Green Bay’s receivers to run wild.

Jayden Daniels vs. Xavier McKinney

Daniels was good but not great last week.  Xavier McKinney had 8 interceptions last season which was near the top of the league.  Keep an eye out on whether Daniels can step up his game from last week, on national television, while facing a major ball-hawking safety.

OFFICIAL INJURY REPORT (active roster only)

LP – limited practice                          FP – full practice                    DNP – did not practice

NIR – not injury related                      Q – questionable                     O – out

D – doubtful

Washington	Packers
P T. Way, back; Mon: DNP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP; game: Q	DL B. Cox, groin; Mon: DNP; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: O
DE D. Wise, knee; Mon: FP; Tues: FP; Wed: LP; game: Q	CB B. Melton, shoulder; Mon: DNP; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: O
WR N. Brown, knee/NIR; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: DNP	S Z. Anderson, knee; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP; game: Q
RB A. Ekeler, shoulder; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP	G A. Banks, ankle/groin; Mon: DNP; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: Q
TE J. Bates, shoulder; Mon: FP; Tues: FP; Wed: FP	CB N. Hobbs, knee Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP; game: Q
QB J. Daniels, right wrist; Mon: FP; Tues: FP; Wed: FP	DL M. Parsons, back; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP; game: Q
DT D. Payne, calf/NIR; Mon: FP; Tues: FP; Wed: FP	OL Z. Tom, oblique; Mon: DNP; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: Q
	WR M. Golden, ankle; Mon: LP; Tues: FP; Wed: FP
	QB J. Love, left thumb; Mon: FP; Tues: FP; Wed: FP
	WR J. Reed, foot; Mon: DNP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP
	DL B. Sorrell, knee; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP
	LB Q. Walker, quad; Mon: DNP; Tues: LP; Wed: FP
	WR D. Wicks, calf; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP;
	P D. Whelen, right knee; Mon: FP; Tues: FP; Wed: FP

Steve’s Prediction

Sorry folks.  Packers win 27 – 20.